Historical and contemporary perspectives on inequalities and well-being of Africans in China

This paper first outlines a brief history of the African presence in China since the Tang era, indicating that Africans have mostly lived on the margins of the Chinese society. It then highlights the contemporary presence of Africans in China since the turn of the Millennium, showing that while African traders and students have demonstrated a lot of resilience, the story of Africans living at the margins of the Chinese society has not changed much. As a case study, insights are drawn from research conducted in Guangzhou showing the marked inequalities Africans living there face in regards to access to health care. Some of the many barriers creating inequality of access to health care include affordability, legal issues, and language barriers. Finally, the paper proposes a theory of resilience to explain the attempt by Africans in China to cope with this situation of inequality and well-being.